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Posted 9/20/2012 4:40:00 AM

As you’ve heard, fired school teacher Lynden Dorval has landed on his feet at the front of a classroom at Tempo School.  They needed an advanced physics teacher and here he is.  35 years experience.  Many of you, including teachers are expressing outrage at the no-zero policy that Lynden Dorval fought against.  He was fired for insubordination, for not doing what he was ordered to do, but that is under appeal.  Public school board trustees want to make sure we all realize they did not do the firing.  We all understand that, but they are responsible for policy and three of them are on a committee to look at the no-zero rule.  Given the feelings surrounding that idea, depending what the trio comes up with, we could well have an actual school board election issue next year at this time.  Has that ever happened before?  Parents are upset when schools close, but that only affects some.  The no zero policy is resonating with people all over the city.  When election time comes we need to know who the candidates are and what they stand for when it comes to educating our children.  The other issue in all of this, is, of course, the parents.  Where are they when their child earns a zero?  Do they even care that assignments are not being done? Is there any parental support for the teacher as he tries to guide their child away from a life of under-employment?  Let me know what you think.

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Posted By: Bob Layton  

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  1. Bill posted on 09/20/2012 07:12 AM
    I hate to say it but in this day and age most parenting consists only of being able to say, "Not my Johnny, he is an angel and would never do that. It must have been someone else that did that. He always does as he is told."
    Back when I was in school if I didn't do an assignment my parents got a phone call and boy did I get it when I got home. Mind you the teachers back then could do that. Now a days they are told they are the ones that are doing things wrong.
    Oh how times change.
    1. David W. Lincoln posted on 09/20/2012 11:15 AM
      @Bill Denial isn't just a river in Egypt, thanks to selective vision.
    2. The Infidel - Mr. John posted on 09/21/2012 10:36 AM
      @Bill From Wikipedia record: " The first "free" school (which would now be called a public school) in what is now Alberta, was established in the hamlet of Edmonton, in the Northwest Territories, in early 1881."

      1-8-8-1......You would think that in the 131 years that the "public school" system has been around that the NO ZERO mark would have been covered, reviewed, decided, re-reviewed, debated, argued, court challenged, public challenged, bunked, debunked, and FINALLY handled!!!
      Apparently,....we have not come a long way!
  2. fred posted on 09/20/2012 10:08 AM This comment was edited by a moderator at 03:40 AM on 09/21/2012
    Well Bob, what is the name of that bird we are seeing now? It is called Duck! Now the school board did not fire him. Where was the teachers or the union when in came to supporting, in a meaningful way, one of their own. Oh, and we are reviewing the policy, right, likely just in time to all be on side for the next election.
    Well education world when you can only support one of your own this poorly remember it when you come time to need support.
    I think we have taught our students a lesson here as well, one that would be better if it were not followed if you want to look yourself in the mirror in the morning and see a man looking back.
  3. Lynne Barnett posted on 09/20/2012 10:57 AM
    Good Day, Bob!

    I have just sent the following email to Tempo School. Way to go, Tempo!!!

    Tempo School.............

    My sincere congratulations to you for snapping up Mr. Dorval !!!!!

    I am 69 years old. To this very day, I clearly remember when my grade 7 history teacher, Ernie Robinson, handed me back my history exam.............all in RED he marked 8% at the top and a very large HOGWASH right through my paper.

    Had it not been for his ability to mark me fairly, I may never have smartened up and taken my future studies seriously.

    I am thrilled to see Mr. Dorval move forward and use his exceptional talents where they are appreciated.

    Thanks, Bob!!

    Lynne
    1. Bob $ posted on 09/21/2012 10:40 AM
      @Lynne Barnett And I would like to thank Mrs. Ross in my grade 5/6 classes for sparing me "the rod" by not breaking any wooden yard sticks over my back for screwing up my tests or disobeying her instructions.....Billy, Brian, Kenny, and David,..(brothers) didn't do "so good"!
      The school board chastised the company for selling inferior yard sticks to our school,....little did they know.......
  4. Darryl posted on 09/20/2012 12:42 PM
    My son didn't hand in an assignment and I found out. His punishment.... no more gaming, he had to do the assignment anyways which I reviewed and he handed in.... and he had to do an essay for me stating why it's important in this world to complete work and also to get good grades and to apply effort in the things we do.

    It had the desired effect.
  5. The Infidel - Mr. John posted on 09/20/2012 01:35 PM
    Congratulations on your new position Mr. Dorval....now,...go get 'em Tiger!!!
  6. LaurieM_4331 posted on 09/20/2012 02:15 PM
    So do these people think that a post secondary student is going to receive a mark for failure to submit an assignment?
  7. Mouselady posted on 09/20/2012 03:22 PM
    Don't students have to bring report cards home and get them signed anymore? If so, didn't the parents see the completely useless grading system? If not, WHY NOT?
  8. Cameron posted on 09/20/2012 05:25 PM
    I don't support assigning zeros for assignments. But I also don't support assigning "incomplete". I support making ALL ASSIGNMENTS MANDATORY. Even if the student can't manage to hand it in on time, you can't pass the course unless all of the work is handed in. But if it's late, assign half marks.

    That will encourage
    a) A work ethic where you do what is assigned to you, and
    b) An effort to meet deadlines.
  9. MaryjaneG posted on 09/20/2012 06:05 PM
    I am delighted for Mr. Dorval and pleased the Tempo School realized his assets to the teaching profession. His style of teaching was PREPARING the students for the Real World after school. Parents should realize that and support the teachers and stop coddling their kiids...that was ok in Kindergarden and Elementary grades, but definitely Not in High School.
  10. Danie posted on 09/20/2012 06:51 PM
    The zero policy is absurd and rediculous! Students are in school to learn if they don't apply themselves or turn in assigned work than they should be graded accordingly! What are we doing to our youth? What are we teaching them? We are not doing them any favors if anything we are ill preparing them for the real world. If you don't work as an adult you don't get paid... We don't apply ourselves on the job we get fired! It's that simple!
    1. Garry Chubb posted on 09/21/2012 10:43 AM
      @Danie "If you don't work as an adult you don't get paid... ".....
      That only works in the real world Danie,...not in the "political world",...I mean FAMILY!!!
  11. Darlene Hammill posted on 09/20/2012 06:53 PM
    I feel that the zero policy in the schools only teach the kids that they are not required to do the work and that in life there are no consequences to their actions or in this case, the lack of action. I 100% back this teacher in what he did.
  12. Gail T posted on 09/20/2012 06:56 PM
    In the real world today,if you are assigned a task or project on a jobsite and fail to complete chances are you would be in the bosses office either being fired or reprimanded severely. We are not helping our children by coddling them through the system. And by the way 80 percent is the passing grade not 50 for most courses taken through your employer. Wake up people.
  13. Scott Wilson posted on 09/20/2012 07:42 PM
    Absolutely, I'd expect my child to get a zero - and I'd want the teacher to care enough to give me a phone call also. I'm trying to teach my child that there are consequences for their actions - the last thing I need is for some "well-meaning do-gooder" in school administration to sabatoge my parenting.

    Give the teacher the latitude to exercise their discretion ... if there is a problem, let's work through it together. But don't gloss over the fact that my child is struggling supposedly to protect their self-esteem. If they want to do that, maybe they should devote their energies towards the bullying problem.

    My feeling is that this is more about making the school look good than it is about helping my child achieve their full potential.
  14. shep grad 71 posted on 09/21/2012 10:07 AM
    Thank you ,Bob, for keeping this issue in the news. As you have said, it is time for parents to get meaningfully involved other than simply sending supporting emails. The easiest and most effective way for parental involvement is through the SCHOOL COUNCIL. The principal DISBANDED Ross Shep's School Council in February 2011, about the same time this flawed policy was being implemented. Quite a coincidence, don't you think. School Councils are mandated by Alta. Ed and the School Act, they are NOT OPTIONAL. Ross Shep has not had a Council for over 18 months!!! The good news is that, FINALLY, there will be an organizational meeting at Ross Shep on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER. 25 at 6:30pm. ROSS SHEP PARENTS, if you want meaningful input in your school's policies or want to affect change, ATTEND THE SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING!!! It would be great to see a room full of concerned parents at Tuesday meeting. There are only 8 per year. If at least 5 parents do not show up to two consecutive meetings, the principal can once again disband the Council and say the parents were consulted. All schools have School Councils, so join yours if you want meaningful input.

    BOB, please, please, please announce the meeting date in your next editorial as a PUBLIC SERVICE announcement. It comes as no surprise, that the principal has done little to this point to publicize this important meeting, even though regulations state he must. Please help get the word out about Shep's School Council meeting and urge all parents to get involved in their Council. Principals can ignore teachers and regulations but not so much parents.
  15. rob posted on 09/21/2012 07:59 PM This comment was edited by a moderator at 08:46 AM on 09/23/2012
    Love your editorials! But enough is enough! I have to say something and honestly, this is the first time I have done anything like this, so.... I am honestly concerned, actually almost scared and I think we all should be. There are real people in positions of ' authority ', making totally illogical and socially irresponsible decisions. Is this a bleeding heart decision, oh sorry please don't let me offend you:) ??? Little Johnny is going to get upset...hush now. Give me a flipping break!!! God help us all as we age and ' the system' is teaching our children there is no accountability. Not only would my parents be notified, but I would have to go to detention and still get it done. What they should do is read out the marks like they used to and let the pecking order take over and see how they fit into the crowd of their peers..
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